Ink-well



(No Model.)

E. STERN.

. INK WELL.

No. 532,347. .Patented Jan. 8, 1895.-,

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Y. Effagfgbgfgg UNITED STATES PAIENT`A OFFICE.'

EDWARD STEEN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

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srEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patentino. 532,347, aafea'qanuafy s, 1 ses.

l Application tiled April 4, 1892. Serial No. 427.731. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, EDWARD STERN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ot' Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Ink-Wells, of which the following is a specification. The object of my invention is to construct an ink well of the barometer type, in which the dipping pit section is independent of, and detachable from the body of the well, a further obj ect of my invention being to construct the dipping pit section in such a manner that a small quantity of ink is exposed to the air, and in which a pen can be readily charged with ink, as more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a sectional view of my improved ink well showing the pen in position. Fig. 2,

is a face view of the ink well with the dipping pit section removed. Fig. 3, is a perspective view of the dipping pit section detached from the Well. Fig.4 4f, is a plan view. Fig. 5, is a section on the line 1 2, Fig. l; and Fig. 6, is a section on the line 3 4, Fig.

In the manufacture of ink wells of the type shown, it has been the custom to make the dipping pit section a permanent part of the body of the well', and have a comparatively large passage uniting the ink reservoir with the dipping pit section. Dipping pit sections of this character expose a greater quantity of ink than isV absolutely necessary, and to properly clean these wells, the ink both in the dipping pit and in the reservoir, has first to be removed. Another objection to these wells is that they are hard to till, being iilled from the dipping pit. I overcome these objections, and

secure many desirable results, in the follow- Ing manner:

A is the body of the well, made of glass or other suitable material, and is preferably molded and shaped by a plunger passing into the body of the well from the front forming the ink reservoir, and the front of. this reservoir is partially closed and formed into a neck a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The mouth o. in the neck a is preferably on a line with Ithe base line of the reservoir, and it will be noticed that the reservoir formed by the plun ger is preferably tapered, not only to allow for the ready removal of the plunger, but also I to allow the sediment that naturally collects in the reservoir to be carried forward to the mouth a.

' On the top of the wellare pen racks, although these racks may be dispensed with in some instances, and the exterior shape of the well may be readily changed, and the reservoir formed by the plunger may, in some .inC stances, be square, but I preferthe shape shown.

Adapted 'to the mouth a of the body is a other suitable material, and when the dipping Y pit section is forced into-position, the rubber makesa tight joint between the body and the dipping pit.

The exterior of the dipping pit section can be of any ornamental shape required, and is provided with a suitable lid E, which is pivoted at e to the rear of the dipping pit section. Y

d is the dipping pit proper, and is shaped as clearly shown in Figs. l and 5, and is of sut`- ticieut diameter to accommodate an ordinaryv pen.

The inlet f from the reservoir to the dip and is diminished in'f'size at the forward/end so as to allow for a very small opening into the dipping pit, and as the normal level of the ink in this dipping pit is on a line With this opening, only a very small quantity of ink is exposed, and itV will be noticed on referring to Fig. l, that as the'passage fis above the bottom of the reservoir, anysediment which may accumulate in the reservoir,will be collected below the line of the passage f, thus preventing the sediment from passing into the-dipping pit. If however, sediment does collect in the dipping pit d owing to expos# ure, this dipping pit can be readily cleaned by simply turning the ink well upside down, and throwing the ink out of the dipping pit, as it will not iiow back into the reservoir owing to the contraction of the passage f. Thus,

it will be seen that the dipping pit While hold- IOO ing a small quantity of ink, can be readily manner as will permit the free entrance of air into the reservoir without the air opposing the outward iiow of ink, as the bubbles of air once past the contracted portion of the passage f will rise to the top of the passage and pass onward into the main reservoir, taking the place of the ink which iiows from it into the dipping pit as use is made of the well.

It'will be noticed that the dipping pit increases in diameter as it nears the top. This allows for the ready insertion of the pen into the pit, and also provides space for ink upon expansion of air or ink within reservoir.

Preferably on the Wall of the body opposite the passage f, is formed a projection or rib g, which, when the pen is inserted into the pit, .as shown in Fig. l, projects into the hollow space of the pen. This rib, in conjunction with the pen, facilitates capillary attraction, and aids the ink `to ascend upon the pen higher than the level of the ink in the pit. This rib may in some cases, extend up farther than in others, and may conform more closely to the shape of the pen, but a rib as shown in Fig. 1, will be sufficient for the maj ority of pens.

On the upper edge of the dipping pit is a stop h, against which the pen holder strikes when the pen is inserted into the dip the full distance. This stop is so arranged as to preventthe pen from striking the bottom of the pit.

Surrounding the dipping pit proper, is an overiiow space d", which receives the ink when owing to certain conditions, the ink is raised to such an extent as to overflow the pit.

It will be noticed that the dipping pit is inclined to about the natural angle at which the pen is dipped, so that the pen can be readily inserted. It will also be noticed that instead of the extension b having a cork or packing on its exterior, it may be increased in diameter, and the packing or cork inserted between the outside of the neck of the body of the well, and the inside of the extension b, but I prefer to make the well as shown in Fig. 1, which enables me to make, in many instances, the body portion of glass, and the dipping pit portion of metal, rubber or glass, which can be readily attached to or removed from the body of the Well, and being at' the side, is in proper position to be used, and by simply turning the well on end, the dipping and shaped as desired, and can be made complete by a glass manufacturer, while the dipping pit portion is entirely independent and free from the body, and can be made by a manufacturer of metal, rubber or other goods, and this portion of the well, can be in fact, highly ornamented, and made of precious metals, giving a neat appearance to the article.

The lid E can be readily attached to, or removed from the dipping pit portion, by simply spreading the flanges, and allowing the pins, which are preferably carried by the lid, to spring. y

The shape and size of the dipping pit proper can be altered to suit different styles of pens, or one or more dipping pits of different shapes and sizes can be attached to each well, if desired.

l claim as my inventionl. The combination in an inky Well of the barometer type having a reservoir therein, an opening into said reservoir at the front side, the bottom of said reservoir being inclined from the back to the front, and in line with the bottom of said opening, and' a removable dipping pit section adapted to said opening, substantially as described.

. 2. The' combination in an inkwell of the barometer type, of a fixed reservoir, an opening therein, dipping pit port-ionV adaptedio said opening, a dipping pit therein, said dipping pit extending below thepassage forming a communication between the dipping pit and the reservoir, with a vertical rib extending into the dipping pit oppositethe passage so as to conform to the shape of the pen and thus facilitate the capillary action, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilcation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD STERN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. CONNER, HARRY SMrrH. 

